Source: HART
Excerpt:
“Restricting consumer choice without clear scientific evidence risks pushing Americans toward potentially more dangerous alternatives.”
Washington, DC — Following today’s announcement that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has filed a notice of intent to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, Jeff Smith, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART), issued the following statement:
“For nearly a year, HART has asked a simple question: What scientific evidence justifies emergency scheduling? Despite repeated claims of an urgent public health threat, federal agencies have failed to present evidence demonstrating that 7-OH poses the type of imminent danger required for Schedule I classification.
“We appreciate the opportunity for public comment over the next month, giving Americans, who will be most affected by this decision, a chance to be heard. Hundreds of thousands of consumers are eager to share how 7-OH has helped them manage pain, return to work, care for their families, and reclaim their life.
“The facts have not changed. No confirmed deaths have been attributed solely to 7-OH. The government’s own data has failed to demonstrate the public health emergency that has been used to justify this extraordinary action.
“The unfortunate reality is that prohibition rarely eliminates demand. It simply pushes consumers toward illicit markets where products are less transparent, less accountable, and potentially more dangerous. That outcome serves no one.
“We support the Administration’s goal of improving the health of the American people. However, today’s action falls short of that goal – restricting consumer choice without clear scientific evidence risks pushing Americans toward potentially more dangerous alternatives.
“Just last month The New York Times confirmed what consumers, advocates, researchers, and others have long argued: the misinformation surrounding 7-OH has fueled proposed bans and this scheduling effort. We are concerned this was never truly about public safety, but about market share. Americans are demanding a healthcare system that puts people before politics, values transparency over secrecy, and follows evidence wherever it leads.
“We remain committed to defending access to legal, regulated alternatives and to advocating for the Americans whose voices have too often been ignored. We will continue working to ensure that evidence, transparency, and consumer safety remain at the center of this debate.”
HART continues to call for transparent scientific review, independent research, and evidence-based policymaking before permanently restricting access to products relied upon by hundreds of thousands of responsible Americans. The organization also urges policymakers to focus on comprehensive regulatory standards that protect consumers while preserving access to safer alternatives.
About the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART)
The Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) is a nonprofit policy organization dedicated to advancing safe, evidence-based access to natural alternatives for recovery and wellness. HART advocates for scientific transparency, consumer safety, and regulatory accountability in emerging health and wellness industries.